‘Advantage Vidarbha’ Festival to Make Vidarbha an Industrial Hub – CM Devendra Fadnavis

CM’s Initiative Accelerates Vidarbha’s Development – Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Inauguration of ‘Advantage Vidarbha 2025 – MP Industrial Festival’

Nagpur : A favorable industrial environment is emerging across all districts of Vidarbha, from Gadchiroli to Nagpur, attracting investments and fostering the growth of new industries, thereby generating employment. Sectors such as tourism, industry, and transport are advancing, and with major investments and the organization of the ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ festival, the region is set to become the focal point of industrial growth in the coming years, stated Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, emphasized that under CM Fadnavis’s leadership, Vidarbha has witnessed accelerated development in industries and job creation. The ‘Advantage Vidarbha 2025 – MP Industrial Festival’ was inaugurated in the presence of CM Fadnavis at Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University. Also present at the event were Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Revenue and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Industries Minister Uday Samant, Minister for OBC Welfare Atul Save, Soil and Water Conservation Minister Sanjay Rathod, Textile Minister Sanjay Sawkare, Labour Minister Akash Fundkar, Minister of State for Industries Indranil Naik, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Adv. Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State for Home (Rural) Pankaj Bhoyar, and MP Shyamkumar Barve.

₹5 Lakh Crore Investments for Vidarbha

CM Fadnavis highlighted that while Pune is emerging as Maharashtra’s manufacturing capital, industrial growth is also accelerating in other regions of the state. At the recently concluded World Economic Forum in Davos, Maharashtra signed MoUs worth ₹15.7 lakh crore. Of this, Vidarbha secured investments worth ₹5 lakh crore, including a ₹3 lakh crore investment from the JSW Group in Gadchiroli. Battery manufacturing and solar energy projects will be set up in Nagpur, Wardha, and Chandrapur. The CM assured that these investment agreements would be successfully implemented.

Asia’s Largest Steel Hub

With substantial investments flowing into Gadchiroli, the district is shedding its image as a Naxal-affected region and is poised to become Asia’s largest steel hub. Neighboring districts such as Chandrapur, Bhandara, Gondia, and Yavatmal will also benefit from these investments. Additionally, an airport is planned for Gadchiroli, and extra land will be made available for industries in Amravati’s textile zone.

Strengthening the Textile Sector

Through the PM Mitra Park initiative, the textile sector in Vidarbha will receive a significant boost. Given Vidarbha’s high cotton production and its use in defense manufacturing, a conducive environment for industry development will be created. Amravati will also house Asia’s largest pilot training center, which aims to train 25,000 pilots annually. A dry port will be established in Wardha, and an electronic bus hub will be developed. Additionally, Chandrapur will have a coal gasification system within the next four years. Plans are also in place to facilitate direct cargo transportation from Nashik to Vadhavan Port.

Efforts are underway to improve connectivity between Vidarbha and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh with the support of the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments. CM Fadnavis also mentioned plans to develop Nagpur Airport as a parallel hub to the upcoming Navi Mumbai Airport, modeled after Dubai Airport.

Combating Naxalism, Poverty, and Unemployment

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized that Vidarbha accounts for 75% of Maharashtra’s mineral wealth and 80% of its forest cover, making it an ideal destination for tourism and industrial expansion. Under CM Fadnavis’s leadership, these initiatives have gained momentum. Decades-long efforts to uplift Gadchiroli have intensified, with Fadnavis personally overseeing the district’s development as its Guardian Minister. The government aims to attract investments to eliminate Naxalism, poverty, and unemployment. The ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ initiative seeks to create a business-friendly environment across all districts, with a structured plan for rapid development over the next four years.

Maharashtra’s Role in India’s Economic Growth

Industries Minister Uday Samant stated that balanced industrial development across Maharashtra was a key focus at Davos. The state government is committed to providing industry-friendly infrastructure and policies, attracting significant investments. He expressed confidence that initiatives like ‘Advantage Vidarbha’ would play a crucial role in making Maharashtra a key contributor to India’s goal of becoming the world’s third-largest economy. He also suggested that similar industrial festivals be held across the state.

JSW Group’s Managing Director Sajjan Jindal announced a ₹3 lakh crore investment in Vidarbha, emphasizing its potential to gain global recognition. HCL’s Chief Roshni Malhotra highlighted that HCL has been operational in MIHAN, Nagpur, since 2018, providing jobs to 5,500 people, 40% of whom are women. Lloyd Metals MD Balakrishnan Prabhakaran stated that the company aims to create 10,000 jobs in Gadchiroli within two years.

The festival’s convener and President of the Association of Industrial Development, Ashish Kale, delivered the inaugural address.

The industrial exhibition features over 320 stalls showcasing products from various sectors, including public enterprises, the Ministry of Steel and Mines, the Airports Authority of India, SEBI, the Central Board of Direct Taxes, GST, and the Postal Department. The festival will be open to the public daily from 10:30 AM to 8:30 PM until February 9.